These shoes are made for walking

Nikko has new shoes or braces as they’re rightly called. He needs them to help him walk properly. 

Nikko, is a 91/2-year old Brussels Griffon. He had met Erin several years ago. Erin had fallen madly in love with him then but over time, she lost touch with Nikko’s family and did not get to see him.

Then one day in early 2015 she was contacted by one of them and told Erin that “Nikko misses you. He’s kind of neglected here.” Without any hesitation, Erin made arrangements to get Nikko – This was Nikko in Feb 2015 when he arrived home at Erin’s – looking unsure as he joined her family.Left to right: Baxter (Cockapoo), Sven (Burnese Mountain Dog), Nikko (Brussel Griffon), Regis (Beagle Boxer mix)

Then Erin noticed that he wasn’t quite right. His front paws were badly deformed. His nails were VERY long and were starting to grow into his pads. His wrists were hyper-extended, meaning when he stands, his wrists aren’t able to properly support his weight.  They were bending too much. And this is how his wrists were when he’s resting.Erin consulted with the vets to figure out what had happened and importantly how to help him. X-rays showed that his 4th and 5th metacarpal bones in both front paws had been broken at some point in the past and never healed properly. He is able to get around with no braces but it looked so painful.

It could not have been comfortable for him, but he never complained. Nikko was stoic.  He couldn’t go far. He could not walk on the leash. So he mozies around the yard to look for a comfortable place to sit in the sun. He can’t run though he has little bursts of energy.

The vet tried putting splints on him for six weeks. He learnt to walk on them pretty quickly. After six weeks they figured that they were as straight as they could get them and the vet suggested getting him braces to help support his leg.

Erin went to My Pet’s Brace in Pennsylvania – where they make custom orthotics, prosthetics and wheel devices for dogs and other animals.  Here is a video of Nikko learning to walk with his new braces.

Given his age and the extent of his injury, it seems like he will be needing them for a long while yet. But who knows – maybe the braces and his walking a lot more may help to build up his strength.  The most important thing though is Nikko is home. And he has a “band of brothers” to keep him company.Nikko and RegisNikko and SvenNikko and Baxter

And who’s this? Even a kitty cat called Marcus!He may not be able to keep up with them, but he sure has lots of quality snooze time. May’s comment: Saw this story on I Love My Cockapoo Facebook page.  The video of Nikko and his braces made me curious.  So I contacted Erin to see if she would like to share his story. When she did, it made me well up with tears of anger thinking what could have happened to Nikko during those in between years when Erin lost touch with him and how he must have suffered and in pain.  Erin didn’t ask and doesn’t know how he came to be in the state he is in today, but what’s happened is the past. We both wanted to focus on Nikko’s progress and how he is coping today in his new home.

So then even more tears seeing how he is now a part of a family who loves him.Nikko is 9 1/2 and he will spend the rest of his years showered in love. Thank you Erin for sharing. Thank you for making us feel better because you’re an angel for Nikko.